Water-heater.



H. G. ODENKIRK.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1908.

977,538; Patented Dec. 6,1910.

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WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE13, 1906.

977,538. Patnted Dec. 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATN FTQE.

HARRY C. ODENKIRK, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIOp WATER-HEATER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. ODENKIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in WaterHeaters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to hot water heaters, and provides a structure, wherein a very large water heating surface is exposed to the flame from the burner, so that the flame in passing thereover will deliver practically all the heat units developed, to the water to be heated. Again, the heater is so arranged that the heated air has no straight passage from the burner to the flue, but is sent through a sinuous course, thereby insuring its contact with all parts of the heating coils.

My invention also provides for a casing which surrounds the heat coils, which casing is adapted to be lifted from the coils without dismantling the entire structure so that ready access may be obtained to the heating coils for repairs or other requirements.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises the elements and combinations thereof set out in the claims.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the hot water heater, Fig. 2 at the upper part is a section through the casing just in front of the hot water exit pipe the lower part being a central section through the easing and coils; Fig. 3 1s a plan view of one section of the water coil; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of said coil, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the coil in its assembled position.

The heater is mounted upon a pedestal which comprises a base portion 1, and an upright tubular member 2 that supports at its upper end a rectangular basin or receptacle 3, the member 3 being provided with openings 4 in the under side thereof to permit of ready passage of air to the burner. The member 3 also forms a support for the burner, which in this instance, is shown as a two part burner, such a burner giving economy in the use of the fuel used in the heatmg.

The burner comprises the central portion 5 which is surrounded by an annular ring 6,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 13, 1908.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Serial No. 438,294.

both of the members 5 and 6 having suitable connection with separate pipes '4' and 8, as shown in Fig. 1. The pipes 7 and 8 are connected with the main supply pipe 9, each of the pipes 7 and 8 having a valve therein, whereby the supply of gas is regulated to the respective portions of the burner with which the pipes 7 and 8 are in communication. It will be observed from the above construction that it is possible to use the burner 5 alone when a small amount of heat is required, and when more heat is required to use the burner 6 alone or in conjunction with the burner 5. As before stated, the burners are supported upon the member 3, the feed pipe for the said burners projecting through the front portion of said member.

Mounted upon the member 3 is a rectangular member 10 forming the upper part and inclosing member for the chamber within which the burners are mounted. The member 10 at its upper end supports two ears 11 and 12 represented in Fig. 5. These ears 11 and 12 are formed integrally with the lowest coil of the water circulating member. This water circulating member comprises a series of heating coils arranged in tiers, one above the other. One of such coils 13 is shown in Fig. 3 and comprises a hollow member of sinuous form having certain portions parallel each to the other, which portions are joined at their ends, the opposite ends of the said coil extending in directions at right angles to the plane of the other portion of the coil, and in opposite directions with respect toeach other. Upon the above mentioned ends of the coil suitable orifices are formed. The coils at their ends and upon the sides opposite that upon which the orifices are formed, are provided with lugs which project outwardly. The coils are formed by casting so that a single coil is formed in one operation. The portions of the coil which join the parallel portions of the pipe are formed with openings which are closed by screw-threaded plugs 14. The purpose of these openings is, in the first instance, to supply a suitable means for placing and supporting the core during the casting operation; and in the second instance, the removability of the plugs will allow access to the interior of the coil to clean the same or for any other purpose that may be desired. The plugs 14. are made of brass, preferably, or at least of some non-corrodible material so that they may be readily removed from the openings in the pipe when such is desired.

Each coil in the series used to make up the water heater is constructed in the manner above indicated, with the exception of the top and bottom coils, in which cases, the lug which would project away from the other coils in the series is omitted. Fig. 5 will illustrate the manner of assemblage of the coils with respect to each other, each coil be ing in communication with the one immediately below and the coil immediately above it by means of the orifices at the opposite ends oteach respective coil. It will be likewise seen that the part of the coils opposite the point at which the orifices upon two coils engage each other, are spaced apart by means of the lugs or projections 13 engaging each other in the manner shown in the drawing. The bottom coil is connected with the inlet pipe 15 by means of which water is supplied to the heating coils. The top coil is in communication with the outlet pipe 16 which leads to the hot water boiler or other place where it is desired to use the heated water.

As previously described, the lower coil in the series is supported upon the cross mem bers 10 and 11 so that the hot water pipes are supported immediately above the burners. It will be noted that the coils of pipe are arranged so that the pipes in each coil extend in a direction at right angles to the pipes in the coils which immediately precedes and succeeds it. By means of this construction, the heated air and products of combustion which arise from the burner are broken up, as it were, and caused to travel irregular paths, completely enveloping the pipes in the respective series. In this manner, the entire surface of the individual coils are eX- posed to the heating medium, and by the time the products of combustion have reached the upper part of the casing, the heat units will have been very largely extracted and absorbed by the water within the coils.

The coils are housed within an upper casing 17, which casing is provided with a cover 18 at its upper end, and at the lower end rests upon a flange portion of the member 10. The cover 18 is provided with an opening 19 which communicates with the flue pipe 20, the said flue pipe having suitable communication with the chimney of the building in which the apparatus is used. It will be noted that the casing 17 is not secured upon the member 10, but simply rests thereon. The purpose of this construction is to enable the casing 17 to be easily removed in order that the heating coils may be readily accessible. By removing a portion of the flue pipe 20, the casing 17 may be raised and held above the heating coils. It is also to be noted that the'member 10 is not fastened or secured to the member 8, the

said member 10 simply resting upon the member 3 in the manner indicated in Fig. which will allow the removal of the casing 17 and member 10 together or separately, as may be desired, and will provide a means of easy access to the burner for the purpose of cleaning or repairing the same.

In operation, the water is admitted through the pipe 15, and so, in the first instance, circulates through the coil nearest the flame from the burner. This has the advantage that the lower coil is always kept cool and less likely to be afiected by the direct heat from the burner.

It will thus be seen from the above described device that I have provided a device simple in construction, one which may be easily dismantled, and one in which ready access to the parts for the purpose of repair is attainable. Again, due to the peculiar form of the water heating coils which I have employed, I are enabled to extract prao tically all the heat units supplied by the burner which renders my device most economical.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a water heater, the combination with an inlet pipe, of an outlet pipe, a plurality of coils connecting said pipes, said coils be ing connected in series one after the other, whereby the water flows from the inlet pipe through each of said coils in series and out through the outlet pipe, each of said coils being formed with a plurality of parallel portions, the parallel portions of each coil extending in a direction at right angles to the parallel portions of the coils adjacent thereto and lugs formed upon said coils in position such that a lug on one coil engages a lug on the adjacent coil when the coils are assembled, whereby the coils are spaced apart.

2. In a water heater, the combination with an inlet pipe, of an outlet pipe, a series of coils arranged one above the other, the end (3011s in the series being connected with the inlet and outlet pipes respectively, and each of said coils being connected with the adjacent coil whereby a continuous passage for water is provided from the inlet pipe through said coils in series to the outlet pipe, and lugs upon said coils, the said lugs being so arranged that, when the coils are assembled, a lug upon one coil engages with a lug upon the adjacent coil, whereby the coils are spaced apart.

3. In a water heating device, the combination with an inlet pipe, of an outlet pipe, a series of coils arranged one above the other, each of said coils having an orifice at each of its ends, one orifice in one coil registering with a similar orifice in the coil immediately above it, and the other orifice in the said coil registering with a similar ori fice in the coil immediately below it, a lug formed upon each coil opposite an orifice therein, the lug on one coil engaging with the corresponding lug upon the coil adjacent the same, whereby the coils are spaced apart, a pedestal, and a casing surrounding the said coils and resting upon the pedestal, said casing being freely held by the pedestal whereby the casing may be removed to allow access to the coils.

4. In a water heating device, the combination of a base portion, a series of coils arranged one above the other, lugsformed upon the lowermost coil, means for securing said lugs to the base portion, each of said coils being provided with an orifice at its opposite ends, the orifice at one end of one coil registering with a similar orifice in the coil immediately below it, and the other orifice, in the first mentioned coil, registering with an orifice in the coil immediately above it, and lugs formed upon the coils, said lugs engaging with each other when the coils are assembled, whereby the coils are spaced apart.

5. In a water heater, the combination with an inlet pipe, of an outlet pipe, a plurality of separately formed coils, said coils being connected together in series, the end coils being connected to the inlet and outlet pipes, respectively, whereby the water flows from the inlet pipe through all the said coils in series to the outlet pipe, each of said coils being formed of a plurality of parallel portions joined by curved portions at their adjacent ends and said curved portions being each provided with an aperture, and a plug for and closing each of said apertures, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY G. ODENKIRK.

Witnesses:

A. J. HUDsoN, BRENNAN B. WEST. 

